Oregon Duck Draft Talk

[JustisM]

As someone who follows the NFL draft at unhealthy levels, I figured I'd start a thread on this. Some interesting pieces coming out recently.

Articles:
9/7: Pro Football Focus College Game of the Week (Buckner, Mariota, Dargan)
9/7: CBS Sports Mock Draft (Mariota #1, Armstead #16, Ifo #18)

Videos:
QB Marcus Mariota
CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu
OC Hroniss Grasu
OT Jake Fisher
OT Tyler Johnstone
DL Arik Armstead
LB Derrick Malone

Games:
vs South Dakota
vs Michigan State

[JustisM]

1. St. Louis Rams -- QB Marcus Mariota, Oregon
With Sam Bradford, the Rams are contending for the playoffs in 2014. But with the former No. 1 overall pick out for the season (again), St. Louis will instead be in contention for the top pick of the 2015 NFL Draft. Although Bradford is under contract for the 2015 season, the Rams need to think of the future of the position if they have the chance to draft one of the top quarterbacks next spring.

16. Arizona Cardinals -- DL Arik Armstead, Oregon
With 33-year old Darnell Dockett out for the season with a serious knee injury, the Cardinals could potentially address that position in the draft next season. Armstead is still very lean for the position and looks more like a basketball power forward in pads, but his natural skill-set and potential are off-the-charts.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers -- CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon
Despite locking up Cortez Allen long-term, it's an aging secondary in Pittsburgh and new life at cornerback will be targeted next off-season. The Steelers strongly considered Darqueze Dennard in the 2014 NFL Draft but decided to take a different Big Ten defender, Ryan Shazier. Ekpre-Olomu isn't the biggest and won't run the fastest 40-yard dash in Indianapolis, but he's fluid, instinctive and plays the position with the confidence and veteran presence that will endear him to pro teams.

[dthomas=ddixon]

If Armstead keeps up this level of play and improves all year he will be a very high pick. It's been a while since we had a guy look that physically dominant at times.

[JustisM]

Oregon Performances of Note

DeForest Buckner, DE: +3.7

Breakdown: Had himself a conversion on a two point play but that’s not what impressed it, with his work on defense as good as any. Generated three total pressures, but it was his work in the run game that was top notch.

Signature Play: While his sack with 9:59 to go in the third quarter wasn’t a rip-roaring explosion ’round the edge, it was a nice show of some football smarts as he avoided the cut block, got his hands up to prevent the QB from getting rid of the ball and then finished off the play.

Marcus Mariota, QB: +2.6

Breakdown: As a passer he wasn’t really tested. His big completions saw him hit wide open receivers either by bad defense or creative play calling. Where he really impressed was his ability to turn a broken play into a positive one.

Signature Stat: Forced seven “missed sacks” with the defense in position to bring him down for a loss.

Erik Dargan, S: +2.5

Breakdown: A little bit more impressive than Reggie Daniels, both had themselves a nice time as they came up to make some plays in coverage. Three tackles and one stop won’t catch the eye, but his solid play should.

Signature Play: With 5:55 left in the first quarter he broke nicely on a pass thrown by Connor Cook before taking the ball into the Spartans’ half.

Game Ball

And the first PFF Goes to College Game Ball recipient is … DeForest Buckner.

[JustisM]

If Armstead keeps up this level of play and improves all year he will be a very high pick. It's been a while since we had a guy look that physically dominant at times.

He obviously improved. I wonder if the extra effort is only because he's likely out after this year, though. He does have that huge insurance policy out, which means 99% of the time that a guy is looking at the league. He'll be an interesting one. Heck, I bet Chip tries to make a run for him. He's getting those stretch defensive linemen out in Philadelphia, too.

[gogreen55]

He obviously improved. I wonder if the extra effort is only because he's likely out after this year, though. He does have that huge insurance policy out, which means 99% of the time that a guy is looking at the league.

From what I have heard, it is a foregone conclusion that Armstead is gone after this season.

[Phenom]

He obviously improved. I wonder if the extra effort is only because he's likely out after this year, though. He does have that huge insurance policy out, which means 99% of the time that a guy is looking at the league.

From what I have heard, it is a foregone conclusion that Armstead is gone after this season.

Yeah, I've heard that he was on a 3 year plan all along and that's why he decided to give up basketball and focus solely on football this season. He could've actually gotten some minutes this year on the hardwood.

Great thread, justo.

[Duck07]

If Armstead keeps up this level of play and improves all year he will be a very high pick. It's been a while since we had a guy look that physically dominant at times.

and yet Buckner is by far the better and more versatile DL at this stage.

[duck541]

I think they both leave. Buckner will be a high draft pick as well if he keeps it up all year.

[GrandpaDuck]

I haven't rewatched the game yet let alone tried to grade it, but I would be surprised if I didn't have some major disagreements with PFF's graders.

The chart looks like a beautifully presented pile of crap. It is fun to look at though, thanks for posting it.

Is it better than what I could do? I wouldn't even attempt to put in such precise numbers of such subjective judgments made without the benefit of ALL 22 film and the play call.

Just a couple of figures that jumped out to me, without the benefit of seeing the replay. Royce Freeman scoring a rush rating of -1.0 That's some tough grading for a guy who averaged 6.8 yards per carry and had 2 TDs and 91 yards in only 13 carries against MSU no less. That is the same grade Marshall got with his 1.8 ypc on 5 attempts while Tyner scored a +0.2 with the same 13 carries @ 2.5 yards per carry and 1 TD.

Devon Allen got a false start penalty which on their scoring system made him an overall negative contributor.

The coaches named Keanon Lowe the co-offensive player of the game, despite his PFF negative grade as a blocker.

[JustisM]

He obviously improved. I wonder if the extra effort is only because he's likely out after this year, though. He does have that huge insurance policy out, which means 99% of the time that a guy is looking at the league.

From what I have heard, it is a foregone conclusion that Armstead is gone after this season.

Yeah, I've heard that he was on a 3 year plan all along and that's why he decided to give up basketball and focus solely on football this season. He could've actually gotten some minutes this year on the hardwood.

Great thread, justo.

Not surprising. I mean, people were talking about him going to the NFL when he was a SR in high school, albeit at OT. Really not surprising considering what happened to his brother.

Anyone heard a rumor that Arik only played basketball to get out of winter workouts in football?

I think they both leave. Buckner will be a high draft pick as well if he keeps it up all year.

Agreed. Buckner can get after it. I think a 3-4 team will like Arik, and he'll hold a bunch of value for them, but Buckner is something everyone would want to add.

For what it's worth, National's PS grades for UO seniors:
6.9 Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (#2 DC behind Wayne Lyons, also 6.9)
6.1 Hroniss Grasu (#1 OC)
6.0 Derrick Malone (#2 OB behind Vic Beasley, a 6.6)
5.9 Tony Washington (#3 DE behind Cedric Reed and Ishaq Williams, who has since been kicked out of Notre Dame)
5.8 Jake Fisher [WAAAY TOO LOW]
5.2 Erick Dargan

Here's what grades would mean:

8.0 grade: Special player, will impact a game and dominate at his position
7.0 grade: A potential pro bowler, a player you win because of
6.5 grade: A solid rank and file starter you could win with
6.0 grade: A solid backup who could start, but limited
5.5 grade: A role player but not a starter. A specialist
5.0 grade: A talented player, but not draftable. Developmental

So Ifo would be between future pro bowler and solid starter, and Grasu would be between starter and backup. The rest would be lower roster guys. I disagree on Fisher, but can agree with the rest.

[JustisM]

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl- ... an-bennett

Interesting notes on former QB Bryan Bennett

"I could have stayed at Oregon but not at the position I played my whole life."

"I took another trip out there, and walked up to the stadium and thought it was high school again after my time at Oregon and those facilities so that was a little discouraging."

[Phenom]

Bennett is the man. Wish nothing but the best for him. Once a Duck, always a Duck...unless they talk s*** about Oregon. lol

[JustisM]

http://mmqb.si.com/2014/09/17/marcus-ma ... potential/
Greg Bedard

"Even after Michael Vick, Vince Young, Cam Newton, Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III, Mariota may project as the best dual-threat quarterback ever to come out of college."

"Some, but certainly not all, NFL teams want a quarterback who will be the unquestioned leader of the team, an alpha male. At least one team didn’t see enough of a commanding persona from Teddy Bridgewater, taken 32nd by the Vikings in May, to consider drafting him. That’s the landscape Mariota will be wading into."

[UOducksTK1]

Thanks for the updates, Justin.